Improvement in fruit-boxes



UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

T. B. DOOLITTLE, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-BOXES.

Spccication forming part ofLctters Patent No. 55,631, dated June 19, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, T. B. DOOLITTLE, of Ansonia, of New Haven county, in the State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Boxes and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates particularly to a novel mode of construction in boxes for packing grapes, though it is adapted to boxes suitable for other fruits.

My invention has for its objects to afford a box which will be desirable in every particular for the purposes alluded to, and which shall be very readily and economically put together and manufactured, and one the disconnected parts of which may be ver conveniently packed for transportation; and to these ends my invention consists in a box formed by bending and securing' around two end pieces a thin board or veneer in such manner as to constitute the front and back sides and bottom and top of the box, all as hereinafter m'ore fully explained; and my invention further consists in the use, in combination with the thin board or veneer, of a post or strip secured to the inner surface of the front side of the box to receive a nail or other instrument used to secure the lid, as will be hereinafter more fully described. r

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the construction and operation of my improved fruitbox, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of one of my fruit-boxes, and Fig. 2 a cross-section of the same at the line x w, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan- View of the thin board or veneer as prepared for use before the formation of the box.

In therseveral figures the different parts are designated by similar letters of reference.

A and B are the two ends ofthe box, which I propose to make of about the shape shown, but which may, of course, be varied in shape and proportions. These ends A and B should be made sufficiently thick to properly' receive and retain the nails by which the other parts are secured to them. The bottom, sides, and top of the box are all formed of a single thin board or veneer, such as seen at Fig. 3. This board is partially cut crosswise and in parallel lines, as indicated at l 2 3, and it is then bent around the two ends A and B, and secured to them in such manner that the portion c shall constitute the front, d the bottom, e the back. and fthe top or lid of the box. The portions c, d, and@ are permanently nailed or otherwise fastened to the ends A B 5 and the portionfis left to be secured after the box is packed or filled, the cutSforming or constituting a hinge for the lid portion j. When it is desired to secure the lid j', it may be easily nailed or tacked at each end, near itsforward or front edge, to the end pieces, A B 5 but since the material of the front side, c, is not thick enough to receive a nail, and it is necessary to secure the lid f near the middle of its front edge, I propose to rivet or otherwise secure to the front piece, c, on its inner surface, near the middle, a vertical strip or post, g, of a suitable wood, sufficiently thick to receive and firmly hold au ordinary brad or nail driven in from the lid f, as seen at z', Fig. 2.

It will be seen that by forming a box in the manner shown and described there are fewer joints to open, that less securing is necessary, that the parts may be economically manufactured and packed for transportation and be readily put together. It will also be seen that a hinged lid, which is a great desideratum, is virtually provided, without the use or appliance of any hinges, by the method of slitting or cutting the piece, which is bent round in the manner described.

It will be understood that the main features of my invention may be employed with advantage in the manufacture of boxes of various forms and sizes and for different uses.

If deemed expedient the second part of my invention may be dispensed with by the use of some other means for clasping, tying, or otherwise securing the lid at its front edge to the. front portion, c, of the box, without avoiding an infringement of the more important portion of my invention 5 or, if deemed expedient, the veneer may be made longer and cut at four places, and be bent round and secured, as il.

Whole constructed and arranged substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. THOS. B. DOOLITTLE. In presence of- SYLVESTER BARBoUR, T. B. SMITH. 

